Clinical evaluation of pioglitazone

Pioglitazone is the second thiazolidinedione derivative to be clinically used for type 2 diabetes in Japan. It is ten times more potent than troglitazone in glucose-lowering effect. Favourable effects against abnormal lipid levels including decreasing blood triglyceride levels, free fatty acid levels and increasing HDL-cholesterol is advantage to treat obese diabetic patient who may develop atherosclerosis. Up to now, there has been no report of severe hepatic dysfunction due to pioglitazone treatment. Pioglitazone should be carefully monitored in its clinical treatment regarding possible its side effect of hepatic dysfunction.